Description
These Caramel Cheesecake Cookies are soft, rich, and bursting with gooey caramel centers. Combining cream cheese, butter, and graham cracker crumbs creates a tender, flavorful cookie dough that perfectly complements the sweet caramel surprise inside. Finished with a subtle crack of sea salt, they offer a delightful balance of sweet and salty in every bite.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
Fillings
- 1 bag of caramels (individually wrapped if possible)
- Optional: sea salt flakes for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese, butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat together with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light, creamy, and fluffy.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually incorporate the all-purpose flour and graham cracker crumbs into the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms. Take care not to overmix.
- Assemble Cookies: Scoop dough into large balls, approximately the size of two cookie scoops (about 2 tablespoons each). Using your fingers, create a hole in the center of each ball to insert one caramel candy, then carefully roll the dough back into a smooth ball to fully encase the caramel.
- Bake Initial Phase: Place the dough balls on a lined cookie sheet, spaced evenly apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes until the cookies have set but are not fully browned.
- Add Finishing Touches: Remove the cookies from the oven and, while still warm, gently press each cookie with a glass to slightly flatten. Optionally, sprinkle a small crack of sea salt on top to enhance flavor.
- Bake Final Phase: Return the cookies to the oven and bake for an additional 3 minutes to allow the caramel to soften and the cookies to finish baking.
- Serve: Let the cookies cool for a few minutes. For the best texture and gooey experience, serve slightly warm, heating in the microwave for about 10 seconds if desired.
Notes
- Using softened cream cheese and butter enables smooth mixing and a tender cookie texture.
- Rolling the dough around the caramel carefully ensures the caramel stays inside during baking.
- Adding sea salt on top balances the sweetness, but it’s optional depending on your preference.
- For easier handling, unwrapping caramels before inserting into dough is recommended.
- These cookies are best enjoyed warm when the caramel is soft and gooey.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
